Stages of the Development of Trade Unions in India

Some of the stages of the development of trade unions in India are as follows:

Like other countries, development of trade union movement in India is co­extensive with large scale industries.

1. Prior to the World War I:

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The trade union movement in India goes back to the year 1875 under, the leadership of Sorabji Shaparji. He started the agitation to draw the attention of the Government to the lamentable condition of women and child labour in industries in India, This is followed by the establishment of the Bombay Mills Hands Association in 1890 by Mr. M.M. Lokhande, a workman who organised a meeting of 10,000 workers as a result of which several demands were accepted by the mill owners in Bombay Textile Mills. He started a newspaper called Dinabandhu so as to educate the workmen.

In 1897, the Amalgama Society of Railway Servants of India was established and registered under the Companies Act, which is followed by the Printers’ Union Calcutta (1907), Postal Union (1907), Kamgar Hitwardhak Sabha (1909) and the Social Service League (1910). However, these organisations could not make the real start in the Labour Movement till World War I.

2. Between the Two World Wars:

One of the most significant developments of the period was the association of Mahatma Gandhi with the Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association. Here they applied the theory of non-violence in industrial relations. The first systematic attempt in this direction was made by P.P Wadia who established the Madras Labour Union in 1918.

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The World War I (1914-19), the Russian Revolution (1917), Swaraj Movement and the establishment of International Labour Organisation gava a new life to the labour movement and by the year 1920, the trade union emerged on the Indian scene in almost all the sectors to safeguard the interests of the working class.

It was also in the year that India’s first central organisation of labour, namely, All India Trade Union Congress (A.I.T.U.C) was established to represent the interest of the workers and also stimulus to the rapid formation of trade unions throughout the country. Their number and membership increased manifold.

In 1926, Trade Unions Act was passed which provided a legal status, to the registered trade unions and conferred on them and their members a measure of immunity from civil suits and criminal prosecutions. This has improved the image of trade unions in the public.

Towards the end of 1920’s there was a split in the trade union movement on account of ideological differences and a new organisation was formed in the name of All India Trade Union Federation (A.I.T.U.F.) which confused the labour community and resulted in the failure of many strikes. The A.I.T.U.C was captured by communists.

The period of 1930’s was not favourable to the development of trade union movement. The prosecution of communists in Meerut Conspiracy case, failure of Bombay Textile strike in 1929, and economic depression were some of the causes which brought dullness in the activities of trade union.

In 1931, AITUC underwent a further rift, and the communists formed another Central Union-Red Trade Union Congress (RTU) under the chairmanship of D.B. Kulkarni.

3. During and After the World War II:

The World War II, created an emergency and the union leaders again split on the question of participating in the war and there was an ideological rift that split the movement. A new trade union namely Indian Federation of Labour was formed.

Industrial unrests increased during the war period. Government promulgated Defence of India Rules and prohibited strikes and lockouts. But deteriorating economic conditions of labourers made them conscious to be organised for their security. This gave a stimulus to the trade union movement. In 1947, the Indian national Trade Union Congress (INTUC) was formed as a labour wing of Indian national Congress. It was ruled over by the congress leaders.

4. Since Independence:

Independence and partition of the country smashed the hope of the workers for getting higher wages and better working conditions from the national Government. With a view to retaining the amenities which they have earned earlier, a series of strikes swept the country.

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The number of strikes and man days lost were the highest ever recorded in the country. Various political parties formed and kept control over various trade unions. In 1948, Praja Socialist party started another trade union known as Hind Mazdoor Panchayat. Indian Federation of Labour and Hind Mazdoor Panchayat were amalgamated and formed Hind Mazdoor Sabha (H.M.S) in 1948.

In 1949, I.T.U.C. was affiliated to the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions. The United Trade Union Congress was established in 1949 by some radicalists. In 1954, another central trade union was formed in the name of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS). All these unions have been working for the betterment of workers.